Baul singers demand protection, security

Baul singers and supporters on Friday urged the government to enhance protection to safeguard them and the belief that they inherit and contain to preserve the native Baul culture.

To place the demand, the Baul supporters arranged a gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar on Friday afternoon, BSS reports.

The speakers, from the gathering, said that the Baul community has always practiced peace, tolerance, and spirituality, and they never choose the path of violence. They feared that any attack on shrines or spiritual centers would put the very existence of Baul culture at risk in the country. They called for enhanced security to protect Bengali folk music, the spiritual heritage of the folk and Baul cultural tradition.  

The speakers said that Baul music and folk traditions are an integral part of Bengal's history, carrying messages of humanity, compassion, and spirituality for generations.

Urging social harmony and peace, they said if Bauls are being targeted through distorted religious interpretations, the native and local culture will be endangered.

Several Baul singers and supporters from across the country joined the event with Poet Farhad Mazhar as key speaker.